Head to head
African Giant Pouched Rat vs Brown Rat
African Giant Pouched Rat
VS Brown Rat
The African giant pouched rat and the brown rat are both large rats, but one is a pouch-cheeked African species used as a detection animal and the other a worldwide companion of people found on every continent except Antarctica.
| African Giant Pouched Rat | Brown Rat | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Cricetomys gambianus | Rattus norvegicus |
| Size | Well over half a metre long including its tail, and over a kilogram | Body 20 to 28 cm plus a scaly tail nearly as long, weighing 200 to 500 g |
| Native range | Sub-Saharan Africa | Northern China and Mongolia |
| Spread | A population introduced to the Florida Keys has been recorded | Every continent except Antarctica, almost always alongside people |
| Cheek pouches | Large, expandable cheek pouches carry food to its burrow | Has no cheek pouches |
| Working or laboratory role | Trained HeroRATs detect landmines and screen samples for tuberculosis | Became the laboratory rat, and learns mazes and rules |
| Breeding | Not specifically documented | 5 to 12 litters a year of 6 to 12 pups, maturing at about 5 weeks |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, with a stable population | Least Concern, with an increasing population |
African Giant Pouched Rat vs Brown Rat: common questions
Which rat is bigger?
The African giant pouched rat, which grows to well over half a metre including its tail and can weigh over a kilogram, while the brown rat weighs 200 to 500 g.
Which rat detects landmines?
The African giant pouched rat, as trained individuals known as HeroRATs have been used to detect landmines and to screen samples for signs of tuberculosis.
Where do the African giant pouched rat and brown rat live?
The African giant pouched rat lives across much of sub-Saharan Africa, while the brown rat lives on every continent except Antarctica, almost always alongside people.